Well here it is. The name drop. The very thing the route is called after. And its….its…kinda bad. Of all the places to make the first visual blunder, why did it have to be here? Well Archers reality marble/noble phantasm Unlimited Blade Works was unleashed and Ufotable thought the best treatment would be to render it entirely in CGI. If it was just the sky and swords given the treatment it wouldn’t have been too bad but the ground was CGI as well and it shows, especially when the camera is panning. The texture on the ground is so flat that it resembles an early PlayStation one game and when you stick those colourful drawn characters in it the difference in looks becomes glaring. A lot of the core problems with this episode where in this scene. Fans criticized it because Shirou didn’t counter Archers sword rain the way he did in the visual novel but to me that’s minor problem. They also disliked how Archer materised the swords in the air instead of lifting the ones around him but again that’s minor to me. The main problem is that Archer pulls out Unlimited Blade works for nothing. He takes it out, tries one attack and then it disintegrates again. Even in the Visual Novel I remember after reading that scene thinking “Is that it?” Archer taking such a huge gamble and effectively doing nothing with it was always a head scratcher to me though Archers thoughts and actions during this route have been rather nonsensical.
This could have been the time to get the most out of UBW. All the fights of the second half have so far been short lived. This could have been the point where you could add material that would have benefited the story. Previous new material was nice to have but not needed but a fight here, even if it ends unconcluded, would have done wonders. True they could be saving the budget for the finale. Which makes sense as that’s the best time to go all out. But I am starting to get worried. This could be the beginning of a disappointment. I had full confidence in Ufotable last season but these last couple of episodes have shaken it. Now I fear that when I see the final confrontation I will be unmoved by it. Also as I have brought up many times before, there are 6 episodes left, yet at the rate they are burning through the material they will reach stories end by 3 or 4 episodes. I even heard word that the last episode will be forty minutes long. Just how do they plan to fill out that time? With more nice to have but not needed material? Fans say the story is rushing but honestly I believe the last thing Fate should do is slow down. What Fate needs to do is deliver. The build up has been built and the stage is set, it’s time for the fireworks.
A standout moment in this episode was Archer admiring that he should never have been a hero. There was a lot of emotion in that line and you could see Saber resonated with it. As her wish is similar. Rins explanation of Archers past was good though potentially confusing to those who don’t know what a counter guardian is in the Nasuverse. To those who don’t know, a counter guardian is basically a glorified hitman. Whenever mankind is threatened with potential extinction the earth summons up counter guardians to remove the cause. In other words, kill the person or people who are pushing humanity’s self destruction. They have no control or will of their own when summoned. Archer is a fellow who contracted with the earth to receive power in life and as a result was used as a killing machine after his death to bring stability. Hence resulting in him becoming cynical and jaded by the very ideal of heroism. Rins explanation on his past was fairly vague so I think anyone who doesn’t know the details will just be lost. But I say you get the basic idea. But the sure are driving the nail in about his identity at this point. I won’t say it until it’s stated outright but come on. The characters know and the audience know. If anyone is genuinely surprised when it comes out I will be shocked. The next episode has a scene I have been dreading and coincidentally is Shinji’s worse moment as a character.(In this route mind you. We still have Heaven’s feel and hoo boy…) Be cool Ufotable and handle this delicately.
And its….its…kinda bad.
No way! Are you kidding? I thought this was the best episode yet! I mean, gosh! There are so many cuts of the characters in this episode I’d love to make into wallpapers.
A standout moment in this episode was Archer admiring that he should never have been a hero. There was a lot of emotion in that line and you could see Saber resonated with it. As her wish is similar.
THIS! XD Talk about a shot below the belt! In one line, confessing who he is to Saber and highlighting the issues with her own wish. And Saber’s reaction. EPIC!
The texture on the ground is so flat that it resembles an early PlayStation one game and when you stick those colourful drawn characters in it the difference in looks becomes glaring.
Um. You’re kidding me. Did we watch the same show? I totally disagree. There are current PS3 games that have ground textures worse than this. Actually, please point me to a PS1 game that has better texture than that. Heck, even prerendered fixed 3D backgrounds from stuff like Resident Evil aren’t quite up to that. They’re usually a bit too shiny, reflecting too much light or with some shading issues, clashing with the 3d models running around in it. Maybe you can argue inconsistency with the blowing sand but this was…I mean combine it with the wondrous cloud-filled sky and the semi-translucent rotating gears. I thought it was as good as you could ever get on a tv series and would be okay even for a full budget animated movie. I totally can’t complain.
The main problem is that Archer pulls out Unlimited Blade works for nothing.
Well, one thing is, we lose what happened when Shirou does his charge and when he blacks out. But I seriously doubt Archer did it for nothing. Personally, I think this is him doing the next step of what he did in episode 11. I have a feeling Gil has already caught on, which is why he calls him a “Faker”, not referring strictly to his abilities.
One of the best parts of this episode was clearing up a misunderstanding I had about this scene with Archer after he has Rin. At first I thought he invited Shinji over but it looks like Shinji found his way to Archer and Rin himself. (Gawd, I know how he found out too. =.=;)
The next episode has a scene I have been dreading and coincidentally is Shinji’s worse moment as a character.
Worse than heart surgery? I can’t imagine.
One, possibly minor thing I’m looking forward to next week is the effect Rin’s bond with Saber takes on Saber’s personality. She starts showing elements of Rin’s explosive temper. It was a part of the VN that really stuck in my mind. I’m not sure if it will be in there next episode but I’m looking forward to it regardless.
The editing in this episode was kind of a mess, a lot of disorienting abrupt cuts to black and next scene. It show they were trying to move forward full speed… I don’t know why.
Felt so rushed…